Cam Tower - Polish/Clear Anodize vs. Powder Coat: Opinions? Pix?
#1
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I am having a broken valve spring changed out. Mentioned to my wrench that I want the cam tower for a day or so to clean up - I was planning on just brass wire wheeling it. He suggested powder coating - I have a source available to me reasonably priced. But coincidentally I am having some 16" PD's polished for my car and can have the cam tower polished and clear anodized for about the same price. I like the polished look better. I know the clear reduces the shine 10-15% per the polisher.
Suggestions? If polished, I will likely paint (powder coat?) the recess around the P-O-R-S-C-H-E in either red or black - my car is red.
If powder coat, I'd do it in red (I think) and do the recess in black with polished letters - but this may be too busy looking. Opinions please? Pictures if yours has been done especially appreciated.
Suggestions? If polished, I will likely paint (powder coat?) the recess around the P-O-R-S-C-H-E in either red or black - my car is red.
If powder coat, I'd do it in red (I think) and do the recess in black with polished letters - but this may be too busy looking. Opinions please? Pictures if yours has been done especially appreciated.
#2
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Both look great it's just what you like better. I have sanded and polished the one on the 924S then painted it red and left the Porsche writing polished. Then clear coat everything looked pretty good but I sold that car.
#4
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Well on my race motor I first just used a wire brush and cleaned it.
Later I put about 15 coats for cheap red spray paint. No facny paint just about 1/2 of one $0.89 cent can.
This pic was after 1 year under racing conditions.
![](http://members.rennlist.com/m758/July30-2000n.jpg)
Later I put about 15 coats for cheap red spray paint. No facny paint just about 1/2 of one $0.89 cent can.
![](http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/engine03.jpg)
This pic was after 1 year under racing conditions.
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#5
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Thank guys. I am leaning toward high polish...but of course that will make other things under the hood look crappy! Mostly the intake manifold. Off hand I don't know how much more work it would be to have that taken off to be polished too? I'll look into it.
#6
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I just did black wrinkle on the cam tower and intake. I can email you picks.
lets try this....
WOW, I cant belive I figured it out. anyhow, they all still have masking on them and look better with it off due to the contrast of bright alu. and black wrinkle. I polished the cam tower plugs with some brasso on a rag and my drill, to a mirror finish. Ill post more pics later as the rebuild continues.
lets try this....
![](http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/intakeal.jpg)
![](http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/camtower.jpg)
![](http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/camtoweral.jpg)
WOW, I cant belive I figured it out. anyhow, they all still have masking on them and look better with it off due to the contrast of bright alu. and black wrinkle. I polished the cam tower plugs with some brasso on a rag and my drill, to a mirror finish. Ill post more pics later as the rebuild continues.
Last edited by alengyel; 04-07-2004 at 08:21 PM.
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buda bump...
#9
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Hmm. looks pretty good. What brand of wrinkle finish did you use? Is it high temp resistant?
That close up of the block (I think?) what's goin no there? Is the flash so strong it looks like it isn't painted....or maybe it just isn't!!
If I go with this wrinkle I'd go with a polished strut tower brace to offset it. Yeah, that is sounding better and better (read, "cheaper and cheaper"!!)
That close up of the block (I think?) what's goin no there? Is the flash so strong it looks like it isn't painted....or maybe it just isn't!!
If I go with this wrinkle I'd go with a polished strut tower brace to offset it. Yeah, that is sounding better and better (read, "cheaper and cheaper"!!)
#10
Three Wheelin'
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I have a 87 "S" the castings were not the greatest they have many imperfections thet were hidden by the fatory paint. I ended up stripping mine then repainting mine with a paint called "rebuilders cast finish" Is is high themp, gas, oil and chemical resistant. And it looks pretty cool. Available at advance auto from plasti coat. Sorry no pics here at work....
#11
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I cant remember the brand off hand, but its good to 500deg. I sanded the flage sides where the TB mounts up on the intake and also the little boss adjacent for a little detail. The block is not painted, i just washed it down with mineral spirts, it ended up in this post because I misnamed it on my end. The paint was very easy to do and it looks great in person, pics dont due the wrinkle justice. I have no idea how this is going to look in the car though....
#13
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I just cleaned it up with, you guessed it, mineral spirits and painted the bare metal.
#14
Drifting
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This is my S2's cam cover. I picked up a cover from a fellow Rennlisters. He had it walnut shell blasted and then stopped. I got it from him then paid $50 for the powder coating. The letters are Hi-Temp Daytona Yellow paint. I didn't clear seal them, but I bought the clear as well.
It took a while to sand the cover down to a fairly smooth surface, which was probably overkill since the powdercoat should have flowed out when baked. But I just went from 80 grit to 1200 in steps and then used my dremel on some spots. There were a surprising number of 'flaws' that I wanted to smooth out.
It took a while to sand the cover down to a fairly smooth surface, which was probably overkill since the powdercoat should have flowed out when baked. But I just went from 80 grit to 1200 in steps and then used my dremel on some spots. There were a surprising number of 'flaws' that I wanted to smooth out.
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What's the best way to polish it? Just with a buffing wheel or take it to a shop or what? Where are you going for the powdercoating and can they do all this? I'd like to get my stuff black powdercoated with the raised parts (and letters) polished aluminum, the intake runners also polished aluminum. Thanks!